The first time I was edited — KISS

While my creative writing instructor in college loved my distinct and detailed prose, my first editor at a major daily newspaper taught me a brutal lesson on the beauty of KISS — Keep it Simple Stupid.

My editor believed in the sink or swim interview method for the wannabe reporter. Send the newbie out into the wild to cover an event and see what the cub turned in by the 5 a.m. deadline. If it didn’t work out — buh-bye. My first assignment was a packed city hall meeting with 100 hot-tempered citizens speaking out on a critical neighborhood development proposal. Following the four-hour meeting, I tapped away at my computer keys until I could no longer see the screen. As my eyes grew heavy, I hit “send,” then hit the pillow.

I felt confident the editor would love my first article, with details on how the angry mob delivered its opposition with clenched fists, furrowed brows and bellowing voices. I wanted readers to smell the mob’s hot breath and feel the angry energy in the room. I woke up at 5 a.m. to check my inbox.

The editor shredded my masterpiece.

He said it was too hard for readers to find the actionable headlines of the evening. He talked to me at length about the importance of KISS. He must have seen some promise, though as he asked me to cover another meeting the next night. This time, I pushed myself to walk out with the three top points for readers. In writing the article, I limited my phrases to short, sharp, easy-to-swallow bits of information.

That article would be the start of a rewarding career that would ultimately last more than a decade at two newspapers and take me places I never imagined — jailhouse interviews, court room murder trials, press conferences with the President of the United States, tearful Sept. 11 memorial services and into the homes of amazing people willing to share their joys, loss and challenges.

Today, the KISS method still applies in my career as a PR practitioner, whether reaching out to editors with story ideas, formulating key messages for clients or writing communication materials. I’d like to give that editor a big “Thank You” for giving me a chance, and for giving me the brutal critique I needed to move ahead.

Look for more stories in the coming months from other Bader Rutter associates about the first time they were edited. If you’ve got a memorable experience to share, contact us. We’d love to consider it as a guest post in this series.